Plateless LCD Unit

Abstract

Directly illuminated liquid crystal display (LCD) units include an LCD panel, a backlight cavity, an optical film stack located between the LCD panel and the backlight cavity, and a supporting structure. The supporting structure, which is relatively low-profile and lightweight, is positioned to maintain the optical film stack in a substantially flat condition. In some cases, the supporting structure includes a flexible support such as a film, a filament, or an array of filaments that are held taut in at least one dimension. In some cases, the supporting structure includes a rigid elongated support that covers only a portion of a useful area of the film stack.

1 . A liquid crystal display (LCD) unit, comprising: 
 an LCD panel;    a backlight cavity;    a film stack comprising at least one flexible optical film disposed between the LCD panel and the backlight cavity; and    a supporting structure disposed to maintain the film stack in a substantially flat condition, the supporting structure comprising at least one of (A) a flexible support held taut in at least one dimension, and (B) a rigid elongated support covering only a portion of a useful area of the film stack.    
   
   
       2 . The LCD unit of  claim 1 , wherein the supporting structure comprises a flexible support held taut in at least one dimension.  
   
   
       3 . The LCD unit of  claim 2 , wherein the flexible support comprises a filament.  
   
   
       4 . The LCD unit of  claim 2 , wherein the flexible support comprises a plurality of filaments.  
   
   
       5 . The LCD unit of  claim 2 , wherein the flexible support comprises a stretched film.  
   
   
       6 . The LCD unit of  claim 5 , wherein the stretched film is a thermal shrinkage film.  
   
   
       7 . The LCD unit of  claim 1 , wherein the supporting structure comprises a plurality of rigid elongated supports that collectively cover only a portion of the useable area of the film stack.  
   
   
       8 . The LCD unit of  claim 1 , wherein the backlight cavity includes a surface, and the supporting structure is mounted to the surface.  
   
   
       9 . The LCD unit of  claim 8 , further comprising: 
 means for attaching the supporting structure to the surface.    
   
   
       10 . The LCD unit of  claim 9 , wherein the means comprises a protrusion, an adhesive, a mechanical fastener, or combinations thereof.  
   
   
       11 . The LCD unit of  claim 1 , wherein the backlight cavity includes a surface, wherein the LCD unit further comprises a mounting frame, and wherein the supporting structure is mounted to the mounting frame.  
   
   
       12 . The LCD unit of  claim 11 , further comprising: 
 means for attaching the supporting structure to the mounting frame.    
   
   
       13 . The LCD unit of  claim 12 , wherein the means comprises a protrusion, an adhesive, a mechanical fastener, or combinations thereof.  
   
   
       14 . The LCD unit of  claim 1 , wherein the supporting structure contacts at least a portion of a major surface of the film stack.  
   
   
       15 . The LCD unit of  claim 14 , wherein the supporting structure contacts selected portions of the major surface of the film stack.  
   
   
       16 . The LCD unit of  claim 14 , wherein the supporting structure contacts substantially all of the major surface of the film stack.  
   
   
       17 . The LCD unit of  claim 1 , wherein the supporting structure causes the film stack to contact the LCD panel.  
   
   
       18 . The LCD unit of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a support post attached to the backlight cavity.